About Us

Mark Williams (Ph.D Harvard) is the director of the RCGA and Professor of Political Science at Middlebury College, where he teaches courses in Great Power relations, international relations, international drug trafficking, Latin American politics, and US-Latin American relations. A past President of the New England Council on Latin American Studies, he has served as the Antonio Madero Visiting Associate Professor for the Study of Mexican and Latin American Politics in the Department of Government at Harvard, chair of the Fulbright Committee’s Faculty Peer Review Panel for the Western Hemisphere (Andean Region), a consultant for the Fonds National de la Recherche (National Research Fund) in Luxembourg, and Booz Allen Hamilton in Virginia. Professor Williams has chaired the department of Political Science, and directed the programs in Global Security Studies, International Politics and Economics, and Latin American Studies. A recipient of grants and fellowships from the Ford and Mellon foundations, his research centers on U.S.-Latin American relations, Venezuelan foreign policy, international drug trafficking, and Mexican Politics. He is the author of two books and a range of articles and book chapters published by Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica, Latin American Politics and Society, Political Science Quarterly, Studies in Comparative International Development, World Development, and the Oxford, Harvard, Lynne Rienner, and Routledge presses. Professor Williams has lived in seven states across the Midwest, Northeast, Rocky Mountains, South, Southwest, and West Coast, and is a lover of dogs and music—everything from Celtic to classical and jazz to New Age. Email: mwilliam@middlebury.ed

Charlotte Tate is the associate director of the RCGA, administering a diverse set of programs that engage students’ capacity for rigorous analysis and independent thought in a rapidly changing world. She currently serves on the College’s Staff Council, Environmental Council, and Community Judicial Board, as well as on the Town of Middlebury’s Conservation Commission. In addition, she is a tour manager for Music Contact International, accompanying US choirs and orchestras on overseas performance and cultural exchange tours. She served on the Vermont Council for World Affairs board of directors from 2001 to 2020. Prior to Middlebury College, Charlotte held positions in the nonprofit and corporate sectors with the Geonomics Institute, the College of St. Joseph, the Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, and the Sheraton Corporation. Charlotte holds a bachelor’s in economics and German from Bowdoin College, and a master’s in administration from St. Michael’s College. She and her husband operate a small hay farm; and enjoy trekking with their three dogs, bicycle touring, open-water swimming, skiing, and volunteering with local nonprofits. Email: tate@middlebury.edu

Margaret DeFoor is the operations manager for the RCGA, supporting the Center’s diverse set of activities, including our wide spectrum of lectures and conferences, the  Rohatyn Global Scholars (RGS) initiative, and production of the New Frontiers podcast series. Prior to Middlebury College, Margaret owned and operated the Hyde Away Inn and Restaurant in Waitsfield, Vermont, for over 25 years, where she was known for her exceptional event management and catering services. While Margaret originally hails from the state of Georgia, she and her daughter call Middlebury home, along with their cat, Daisy Jane. Margaret enjoys kayaking, long walks, and summertime at the lakes and rivers. Email: mdefoor@middlebury.edu